The island's impressive range of dining and accommodation options also means that families will find something to suit all budgets and tastes. Options include three and four-star hotels, as well as three- to five-star self-catering apartments and villas, not to mention a choice of ten restaurants.

The Island’s Kids Stay and Eat For Free package, which is available at selected restaurants and accommodation, means that accommodation is free for children sharing a room with their parents and using existing bedding. Children aged up to 12 eat for free when dining with their parents at participating restaurants and choosing from the kids menu.

The Clownfish Club allows parents to leave their children for a few hours with qualified child-minding staff. The Clownfish Club caters for children aged from six weeks to 14 years, with activities suited to different age groups. In the evening, private babysitting can be arranged in guests’ rooms.

In total, there are over 60 activities to choose from on Hamilton Island, many of which are suitable for families including mini golf and quad biking. The free use of non motorised watercraft like sailboards and catamarans, makes activities not only plentiful but affordable. Snorkelling off Catseye Beach, for example, is a very popular activity.

Wildlife lovers will also find no shortage of native Australian birds and animals to spot on the Island and beyond. But for guests seeking a more intimate experience, like cuddling a koala, they need only head for Hamilton Island Wildlife Park, one of only a few places in the world where visitors can cuddle a koala and then take home a photograph recording the experience. Oprah Winfrey did exactly this when she stayed on the Island. The Park is also a great place to see other native wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, birds and reptiles including the resident crocodile.

Over and above the on-island facilities, Fantasea Adventure Cruising has two initiatives for children accompanying their parents to Reefworld, the floating adventure platform at Hardy Reef.

'Club Seahorse' , the first child care service offered by a marine operator within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is a free service supervised by experienced staff qualified in Children's Services. Catering for children from six months to 14, the club offers age appropriate activities such as educational videos and booklets, colouring-in, face-painting, games, puzzles, dress-ups and numerous give-aways.

The other initiative which is popular with families, is Fantasea Adventure Cruisings' special deal for children in which children between the ages of four and 14, travelling to the reef with a full-fare adult, are charged just A$30 each. Up to five children per adult are able to take advantage of this offer.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
REEFWORLD, located 39 nautical miles off the Whitsunday coast, offers snorkelling and diving opportunities, a seated underwater viewing chamber, semi submersible coral viewing along the edge of the reef, a sundeck and souvenir shop. Optional extras include guided snorkelling tours and scenic helicopter flights.

HAMILTON ISLAND is located off the Queensland coast of Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here visitors can experience everything that is great about Australia – natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs, diverse flora and fauna. Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accommodation options - including award winning qualia - restaurants, bars, pools and shops and all within a short direct flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns. There are also great connections from other Australian cities.